Funny to say, as I pull-up my tent stakes now, so to speak… 150 years ago today, troops of Edward “Allegheny” Johnson‘s command were pulling up their tent stakes in the same general area, and getting ready to head west, to McDowell. So, you can pretty much see how, for the past twelve years, I’ve been living with the mindset of being “along the road to McDowell” all along.

But let’s get up to speed with the day, shall we?

View from Fort Edward Johnson. Double-tap the image and follow the different hyperlinks that will take you around all the interpretive markers there, summing-up the events that transpired, in relation to “Alleghany” Johnson’s command, in early April, 1862.

Yes, the little village, in fact, raised its own company of infantry… Co. F, of the 5th Virginia Infantry (and I always thought it interesting how the first commanding officer of this company, St. Francis C. Roberts, was Page County-born… and how the Rippetoe men in that same company happened to be related to the first captain of the “Page Grays” of Co. H, 33rd Virginia Infantry), and these fellows were just down the road a’piece, heading in this direction, from Staunton, when the boys from “Allegheny” Johnson’s command were pulling out. But… locals weren’t all too happy with Johnson’s soldiers trampling through their yards and, most especially, their recently planted vegetable gardens. The whole “gentleman” thing just seems to have gone out the window with some of these Southern fellas. If I had my sources handy, I could elaborate with quotes, but…

I can tell you that “Allegheny” appears to have found hospitality in the O.O. Palmer House, down along the banks of the Middle River, in what was known as “Valley Mills”.

The old Palmer House. I actually took this photo back in the winter of ’03. I was able to tour the house a few years ago (it’s been for sale for quite a few years), and it’s quite the place. One can see where the period house lines are located, and where subsequent additions, over the years, have been added. Most interesting was what I saw in the basement… in what appeared to be stall-like quarters for house slaves.

If you have your copy of Hotchkiss’ journal handy, you can see where he went to the Palmer House, in advance of Jackson’s command, and met with Gen. Johnson… always good to put a story together with a contemporary image of the same place mentioned.

Gen. Johnson

So, a day behind “Allegheny”, Stonewall’s men, fresh from their little diversionary effort out of the Valley, to Mechum’s Station, and back in the Valley again… started moving through. Yes, indeed… I have sat on my front porch more than a few times to imagine the troops passing… among them, many a relative of mine, I might add. Ironic enough, two years later, I’d have another relative ride through… though in blue. Anyway, I still wonder if “Old Jack” passed, because story goes (if you tap into that Hotchkiss’ journal again) that Stonewall took an off-road, away from the body of his troops. I often wonder if he may have taken a course that led him over familiar ground, toward Lexington… perhaps along the Middlebrook Road… who knows for sure. If he did, I can pretty much guess one of two points where he regained the Parkersburg Turnpike… either east of West View, or just to the west, along what is now the Swoope Road.

But, I’ve been wordy enough… let me move along with some photos, all taken today (so consider them almost “LIVE” Sesqui images), and captions, as we follow the course of the Confederate forces on their way to a turn-off point, on their way to McDowell…

Entrance point of the village of West View. The house on the left is one of many “witness” houses, that were present at this time, 150 years ago. Though it looks later Victorian, this particular house actually dates to the mid (ca. 1750) 18th century. I had a chance to tour the house a couple of years ago, and, sensing something was missing (I was convinced there was a summer kitchen), started looking… and found an entrance door in the back. Sure enough… a large hearth sits underneath the later built “L” addition in the rear.

A witness house in West View

Another witness house… but actually dates to the latter part of the 18th century

At the western edge of West View. Just down the road, and to the left, before the river, is the old Palmer House (out of sight in this pic).

On the opposite side of the road from the last pic, and looking back into the village from the western edge. Another witness house to the right.

Another look (looking East) into the village of West View, from near the western edge.

View of the Middle River from the modern bridge, at the village of Valley Mills (though, really, not much of a village in comparison to West View). Though you can’t see it, the Palmer House is behind the foliage to the left. In the foreground, you might see the old bridge abutment, across which the old Parkersburg Turnpike ran, and across which troops passed, 150 years ago today, and tomorrow.

Same spot, though from Friday, May 4.

View of the bridge abutment, from 2003. On the same day I took that image of the Palmer House.

Fast-forwarding things a bit, down the Parkersburg Turnpike, to near where Rt. 42 intersects, coming from the right (which leads to Churchville… and Hotchkiss’ wartime home). Confederate troops did not take the road to the right… not here… but further up a bit, into the gap.

Inside Buffalo Gap proper… looking up the Buffalo “hump”

Looking in the opposite direction of the above photo, down “Old Parkersburg Turnpike”… this is the actual road along which Johnson and Jackson’s men marched. I last drove it in 2003… can be a rough trek before you get to the other side, which intersects with Rt. 250, and leads to a series of markers on the road to McDowell.

I’m glad I am not the only one confused about what happened when and where, on all the campaigns. Your comment about Jackson’s route was intriguing.

The Annals of Augusta County online for May 3 say that the troops came into Staunton on the railroad, and Jackson rode in on horseback. I read somewhere that the cars were brought up from Lynchburg for this movement, but I can’t find it at the moment. I have noticed subsequent references to a correspondence of — no RR mail deliveries — and something’s up with Jackson and the movement of troops on the railroads.

There seems to be a question also about Jackson’s route to the Battle of Fredericksburg in Dec. Your markers for the New Market Gap show Jackson crossing the mountain there, but the timeline at the National Library of Medicine for the Henkel site shows Jackson crossing at Harrisonburg Nov. 24-25, while Grumble Jones went to New Market. I couldn’t find any original documents to resolve the inconsistencies, but your information seemed to be well-researched. Maybe in Dec. you can post the references you used.